Published
Sundeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2018, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Updated November 12, 2026: the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and IRCC guidance checked that day.
Length of stay: usually up to 6 months, unless the border officer sets another date.
Work: not allowed without authorization, except limited business visitor activities.
Why a lawyer: breaking visitor conditions can lead to removal and refusals for years. Why a lawyer
Our immigration lawyers
Sundeep S. GrewalBarrister and Solicitor
Prabhpreet Kaur SanghaBarrister and Solicitor
Pardeep S. GrewalBarrister and SolicitorAbout our lawyers
Sundeep S. Grewal founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.
Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.
Pardeep S. Grewal is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.
Visitors to Canada can travel, see family, attend events and do some business activities, but the rules are stricter than many people expect. Most visitors can stay up to six months unless the border officer sets a different date. Visitors can’t work without authorization, and the line between helping out and working matters: a parent helping in a family business can be reported. Visitors can take short courses without a study permit, but longer programs need one. Breaking these conditions can lead to a removal order and refusals on future applications, so it’s worth getting advice before any activity that looks like work.
Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, advises visitors on their conditions and handles enforcement and refusal problems; this guide is by Sundeep S. Grewal.
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Can and can’t
| Activity | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Tourism, family visits, events | Yes |
| Business meetings, conferences, buying for a foreign employer | Yes, as a business visitor (IRPR ss. 186–187) |
| Short courses | Yes, if the program is 6 months or less (IRPR s. 188) |
| Working for a Canadian employer, or in a family business | No, without a work permit |
| Staying past the authorized date | No; apply for a visitor record before it ends |
When it goes wrong
A visitor reported for working can face an inadmissibility report and removal. See a visiting parent reported for working. Overstaying can lead to the same result; see restoration of status.
Why talk to a lawyer before doing more than visiting?
One lawyer, one file, every step:
- advising before any activity that might count as work;
- extending a stay properly;
- dealing with an inadmissibility report;
- fixing future refusals caused by past problems.
The consequences of breaking visitor conditions last longer than the visit. A short consultation avoids a removal order and years of refusals.
Immigration lawyers are members of a provincial law society (in our case, the Law Society of British Columbia), and only a lawyer can take a refusal to the Federal Court. An immigration consultant cannot file or argue it there.
Mistakes I have seen
- Helping in a family store “just for a few hours”.
- Staying past the date without applying.
- Enrolling in a long program without a study permit.
Frequently asked questions
Can my parent babysit while visiting?
Caring for family informally is generally different from paid work, but get advice if it looks like a job.
Can visitors volunteer?
Some volunteer activities are allowed; anything that’s really unpaid work isn’t.
What should I do right now?
Check the date your stay ends, and ask before doing anything that could look like work or long-term study.
Book a consultation with our immigration lawyers in Surrey, Abbotsford or Vancouver, or online from anywhere.
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Sources (official)
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, ss. 186–187
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s. 188
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, ss. 181–183
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.